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32
Before the schools closed for the summer term, all Head
Teachers of schools affected were asked to make a careful enquiry
on re-assembly on the 2nd September in respect of any suspect
cases during the school holidays. They were told that no children
from affected families would be permitted to attend school until
cleared by the Health Department after rectal swabbing and that
unknown and unnotified cases might continue.
For many years free washing facilities have been provided at
all Walthamstow public conveniences and in view of these outbreaks
of dysentery, all public convenience attendants were told by
the Borough Architect, Engineer and Surveyor as to the need to
disinfect seats, chain handles, etc. after use, and particularly at
conveniences situated at playgrounds. It was agreed that this
routine should be followed throughout the school holidays. In
addition attendants were warned on two occasions that they would
be subject to dismissal if washing facilities were in any way refused
to the public and especially to school children.
Special precautions were arranged at the holiday school meals
centre serving the Ward, and arrangements were made with the
welfare officer in charge to ensure that all children washed their
hands before taking school meals.
During the remainder of the year there was only the one case
notified at Mark House School at all the schools affected before the
summer holidays.
During October, November and December there were fifteen,
seventeen and seventeen cases respectively at schools, i.e., a total of
forty-nine, of 138 for the whole year. Of these autumn cases sixteen
were at the Woodside Junior Mixed School and eleven at the Mission
Grove Infants School and smaller numbers at nine other schools
and in Wards other than the St. James' Street Ward.
It appears that the spread of infection was again from case to
case and through the medium of the water closets at school (and in
the home) especially where not followed by immediate and adequate
hand-washing. The essence of control in day schools is repeated
emphasis on hand cleanliness, the exclusion of infected children
and of any symptomless carriers which may be found.
During the course of the year letters giving the full information
were sent to the parents of over 2,000 children on the rolls of nine
schools, to all Head Teachers in Walthamstow on two occasions
and to family doctors on five occasions. It was hoped that at least
these letters would stimulate handwashing in the community.
Of twenty-one schools affected in all, there were thirteen which
had only one or two cases, which is a tribute to the control effected
by parents and teachers. Of these twenty-one schools not fewer
than nine had old, worn out and unsatisfactory sanitary and washing
accommodation all awaiting remodelling, and which had been
postponed from year to year because of financial stringency.
It is clear that bacillary dysentery will always be with us until
adequate washing facilities are available and until every adult and
child is willing to use such facilities at all times.